Post-surgical garment

ABSTRACT

A garment that may be donned by a person without requiring extensive lifting of the arms. The garment comprises a front panel, a rear panel attached to the front panel at left and right shoulder junctions, and a neck hole disposed between the left and right shoulder junctions. When the garment is unfolded and oriented such that the shoulder junctions are oriented horizontally, the front panel has generally vertically oriented left and right side portions extending downwardly from the respective left and right shoulder junctions, and generally straight left and right side portions extending downwardly and inwardly from the respective vertically oriented left and right side portions. The rear panel has generally vertically oriented left and right side portions extending upwardly from the respective left and right shoulder junctions, and generally straight left and right side portions extending upwardly and outwardly from the respective vertically oriented left and right side portions. Mating, left-side zippers are disposed on an edge of the generally straight left side portion of the front panel, and on an edge of the generally straight left portion of the rear panel, and mating, right-side zippers are disposed on an edge of the generally straight right side portion of the front panel, and on an edge of the generally straight right portion of the rear panel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to provisional application Ser. No. 62/894,914, filed Sep. 2, 2019, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a garment that can easily be donned and removed by a patient who has recently undergone surgery, or who is otherwise limited in the range of shoulder movement through disability, injury or other condition.

After certain surgical procedures, such as mastectomy, breast, lung, shoulder, heart surgery, patients may be unable to lift one or more arms at the shoulder or experience pain in doing so. In other instances, people with disabilities or painful conditions, such as tennis shoulders and the like, similarly may be compromised in the movement of their shoulders. These postsurgical and other conditions can make the donning and removal of garments very difficult. Furthermore, post-surgical patients, for example, those who have undergone mastectomies, may find this difficulty discouraging and depressing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a garment that alleviates this problem through its unique configuration, and readily lends itself to the use of high-fashion materials and decorative designs. The patient can put the garment on by herself, without any pain associated with the raising of her arms. By alleviating the pain, the garment can help post-surgical patients to rebuild their confidence by allowing them to get dressed in a fashionable garment and to feel more like themselves again, to thus aid in the healing process.

The present invention is directed to a garment that may be donned by a person without requiring extensive lifting of the arms. The garment comprises a front panel, a rear panel attached to the front panel at left and right shoulder junctions, and a neck hole disposed between the left and right shoulder junctions. When the garment is unfolded and oriented such that the shoulder junctions are oriented horizontally, the front panel has generally vertically oriented left and right side portions extending downwardly from the respective left and right shoulder junctions, and generally straight left and right side portions extending downwardly and inwardly from the respective vertically oriented left and right side portions. The rear panel has generally vertically oriented left and right side portions extending upwardly from the respective left and right shoulder junctions, and generally straight left and right side portions extending upwardly and outwardly from the respective vertically oriented left and right side portions. Mating, left-side closures are disposed on an edge of the generally straight left side portion of the front panel, and on an edge of the generally straight left side portion of the rear panel, and mating, right-side closures are disposed on an edge of the generally straight right side portion of the front panel, and on an edge of the generally straight right side portion of the rear panel. Thus, the mating left-side and right-side closures may be closed by the person without requiring extensive lifting of the arms of the person.

In accordance with specific embodiments, the angle between the generally straight left and right side portions on the front panel and the horizontal can be approximately 63 degrees, the rear panel can be bounded by a slightly convex upper edge, the angle between the generally straight left and right side portions on the rear panel and the slightly convex upper edge can be approximately 60 degrees, and the closures can be zippers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The garment in accordance with the present invention will be described with reference to the following drawing figures, of which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of the garment as it would be worn; and

FIG. 2 is an illustration of the configuration of the pattern of the garment, as it is unfolded and oriented such that the shoulder junctions are oriented horizontally.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to both figures, the garment 10 is comprised of a front panel 12 and rear panel 14 typically formed of a single piece of material and connected at shoulder junctions 16 and 18. Neck hole 20 is provided between the shoulder junctions. The front panel 12 has slightly curved but generally vertically oriented sides 22 and 24 extending downwardly from the shoulder junctions 16 and 18, respectively, and rear panel has slightly curved but generally vertically oriented sides 26 and 28 extending upwardly from the respective shoulder junctions 16 and 18. Proceeding downwardly from the lower extent of the sides 22 and 24 are downwardly and inwardly extending sides 30 and 32, respectively, both at an angle α relative to the horizontal, as shown. Proceeding upwardly from sides 26 and 28 are upwardly and outwardly extending sides 34 and 36, both at an angle β with respect to the top edge 37 of the rear panel. The bottom of the front panel 12 has a generally horizontal edge 38, while the top edge 37 of the rear panel is generally horizontal but is provided with a slightly concave profile at points 40, as shown. Finally, edges 30 and 34 on the front and rear panels, respectively are provided with mating zippers 42 a and 42 b, and edges 32 and 36 on the front and rear panels, respectively are provided with mating zippers 44 a and 44 b. It is noted however, that other forms of closures, such as snaps or Velcro may be used instead of zippers if desired.

To put on the garment, if it is closed, as in FIG. 1, the patient opens it by unzipping the zippers 42 a,b and 44 a,b, pulls it over her head through neck hole 20, by using one hand and without having to raise her shoulder. The patient then zips zippers 42 a and 42 b together and zips zippers 44 a and 44 b together, so that the garment, as worn, is shown in FIG. 1. Because the zippers are straight and do not extend upwardly past the patient's armpits, the patient does not have to raise her shoulders when putting on the garment. Because the edges 30 and 32 of the front panel are inwardly projecting from sides 22 and 24, and because sides 34 and 36 are outwardly projecting from sides 26 and 28, the lower portions of the rear panel wrap around to the front of the garment at regions 45 a and 45 b, as shown in FIG. 1, to thereby make it easier for the patient to zip the sides together. If desired, pockets on the interiors of the portions 45 a and 45 b of the rear panel that wrap around to the front may be provided, for holding drainage or chemotherapy apparatus, for example.

It has been found that the angle α between the front panel sides 30 and 32 and the horizontal can be approximately 63°, while the angle β between the rear panel sides 34 and 36 and the upper edge of the rear panel will preferably differ somewhat from the angle α as a result of the concave profile of the upper edge 37 at points 40. It has been found that angle β can be approximately 60°. It will be appreciated, however, that different choices of the angles α and β can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. In addition, a collar design can be placed at the neck hole to make the garment look similar to a polo shirt, if desired.

The foregoing preferred embodiment described herein is set forth as exemplary, and it will be appreciated that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention which is defined by the following claims. 

What we claim is:
 1. A garment that may be donned by a person without requiring extensive lifting of the arms, comprising: a. a front panel b. a rear panel attached to said front panel at left and right shoulder junctions; c. a neck hole disposed between said left and right shoulder junctions; d. wherein when said garment is unfolded and oriented such that said shoulder junctions are oriented horizontally: i. said front panel has
 1. generally vertically oriented left and right side portions extending downwardly from said respective left and right shoulder junctions, and
 2. generally straight left and right side portions extending downwardly and inwardly from said respective vertically oriented left and right side portions; ii. said rear panel has
 1. generally vertically oriented left and right side portions extending upwardly from said respective left and right shoulder junctions, and
 2. generally straight left and right side portions extending upwardly and outwardly from said respective vertically oriented left and right side portions; e. mating, left-side closures disposed on an edge of said generally straight left side portion of said front panel, and on an edge of said generally straight left portion of said rear panel; and f. mating, right-side closures disposed on an edge of said generally straight right side portion of said front panel, and on an edge of said generally straight right portion of said rear panel; wherein said mating left-side and right-side closures may be closed by said person without requiring extensive lifting of the arms of said person.
 2. The garment of claim 1, wherein the angle between said generally straight left and right side portions on said front panel and the horizontal is approximately 63 degrees.
 3. The garment of claim 1 wherein said rear panel is bounded by a slightly convex upper edge.
 4. The garment of claim 3 wherein the angle between said generally straight left and right side portions on said rear panel and said slightly convex upper edge is approximately 60 degrees.
 5. The garment of claim 1 wherein said mating, left-side closures, and said mating, right-side closures are zippers.
 6. The garment of claim 1 further comprising at least one pocket in one of said left and right side portions extending upwardly and outwardly from said respective vertically oriented left and right side portions of said rear panel.
 7. The garment of claim 6 wherein said at least one pocket is disposed on the interior of said garment.
 8. The garment of claim 1 further comprising a collar design disposed at said neck hole. 